I got on to a train to come back to Uni, after some small business in the city. It wasn't rush hour so I easily found an empty seat at the front of the compartment. Just a few feet away from me were two middle aged men engaged in conversation, apparently friends who bumped into each other on this very train.
With one of these men were a young lad of about 20 years of age. Despite his healthy appearance one could easily see that something wasn't quite right with him. He had a very distant look in his brown eyes, which betrayed his good looks. He was holding a bottle of Coke and standing near his companion despite the numerous empty seats around him. "Why don't you take a seat?" asked the man to which the boy replied "I'm alright here" in a loud voice, but did sit down next to him even before finishing the sentence.
Then his companion's friend addressed the boy and asked him how he was, to which he replied "alright" and straightaway inquired back
Boy: When's your birthday?
Man: August Xth (didn't quite catch the date)
Boy: Which year??
Man: 1951
Boy: You were born on a Saturday
Man: That's right
The man probably knew about this boy's speciality that he didn't show any surprise..
Boy: Your next birthday is going to be a Thursday
By now, he had gained the attention of the whole compartment. Apart from those who had their ipods stuck in their ears (too bad!!)
The people who were bent over books were peeping over their books, the ones who were just staring out the window were glancing in this direction.....all the while pretending that they are not really looking at him..
Boy: The year after next, it'll be a Tuesday
And with that his distant eyes wandered off to something on the compartment wall....
There was a few seconds of total silence, with only the continous rumble of the train. The man got up to get down at the next station.
Man: You are doing very well boy
Boy: Yeah, I'm going to graduate next year
Man: That's excellent!!
With that, he said his good byes and got off...
The boy kept on staring at something else on the wall which attracted his attention....
Oh!! I'm also supposed to get down here!!!
I grabbed my stuff and got off before the doors could close.